There isn't much goofing-around time in the NFL. Not even in April.So it's significant that the Broncos' coaching staff has informed offensive tackle Orlando Franklin he will begin the offseason by shifting to left guard.Franklin, a three-year starter at right tackle, announced the move on his Twitter account Monday after the Broncos' first day of offseason conditioning....

"Franklin showed versatility at Miami playing both guard and tackle". That doesn't quite tell the whole story. Franklin was very effective at LG at Miami U, but struggled mightily at LT. At least according to the Kiper guide. I am not sure the guy was ever meant to be a tackle.

The 2014 Broncos chance of winning it all will require LT Ryan Clady to be healthy.

Plain and simple.

The team has zero chance to hoist the trophy next February without him. Clady's injuries the last two years are the number one reason Denver didn't win a championship. The offensive line couldn't protect Manning in the playoff game against the Ravens nor in the Seahawk super bowl. Sure, Chris Clark played well up the big dance, but the clock struck midnight on this story.

He's got skills, I'm sure he'll do just fine, he already knows the position (hasn't played it at NFL level against NFL competition yet, that could be a wake up call) he's a hard worker with a mean streak, Orlando I'm not worried about.

Clark had some trouble with the speed coming from the left, how is that going to change from the right? I mean, besides that the QB can see it coming and make adjustments? Guess I'll trust the coaching staff on that one, they've done well so far.

So if Manny gets beat out, it's back to the bench, that should be a battle worth watching.

I think the Big O is gonna find out he's a better guard than tackle. I bet he thrives there. Problem is he's not far from free agency and Broncos already have one $5 Million dollar guard. Nobody has two in today's salary cap age. The one who may come out of this best is old O.Franklin. If he plays well enough to grab a pro bowl nod or even mention, he could turn his FA into a fat contract somewhere else. Many seem to think he will be a much better guard than right tackle. I'm for whatever protects the Mannchise best. I thought Clark played well in place of the injured Clady. But he's really not a true RT. We'll see what happens.

300Paul wrote:He's got skills, I'm sure he'll do just fine, he already knows the position (hasn't played it at NFL level against NFL competition yet, that could be a wake up call) he's a hard worker with a mean streak, Orlando I'm not worried about.

Clark had some trouble with the speed coming from the left, how is that going to change from the right? I mean, besides that the QB can see it coming and make adjustments? Guess I'll trust the coaching staff on that one, they've done well so far.

So if Manny gets beat out, it's back to the bench, that should be a battle worth watching.

I tried to find out if Clark was right or left handed - without any luck. If he is right handed (most people are), moving to his right will be more natural and more powerful. That could help his problem of handling outside speed.

Franklin always seemed destined to wind up as top dog at either right tackle or left guard per a John Fox/Dave Magazu decision. Franklin's tweet sounds pretty definitive so until the draft tells us something different, the big training camp competition would seem to be Ramirez vs. Montgomery at center.

Those prognosticators predicting a highly drafted guard based on need should take pause. The position of biggest need on the line is pretty much wide open. Franklin and Montgomery are 2015 free agents. Ramirez and Clark are 2016 free agents. Whatever position they draft, as long as they get a 2015-2016 starter then they will have multiple chances to adjust in free agency.

If they take a center, great. If they don't take a center they still have Ramirez and/or they can probably re-sign Montgomery if he works out.

If they take a guard and he has talent then it puts them in the driver seat for Franklin's impending free agency. If they don't take a guard then they can make re-signing Franklin a higher priority. They already have a two year backup plan in place with Ramirez.

A tackle would be competition for Clark and a starting option on the right side for 2015/2016 but also a backup plan if Clady should go sideways.

A future starter at any line position is good. A non-starter…not so good.

retro-grouch wrote:Franklin always seemed destined to wind up as top dog at either right tackle or left guard per a John Fox/Dave Magazu decision. Franklin's tweet sounds pretty definitive so until the draft tells us something different, the big training camp competition would seem to be Ramirez vs. Montgomery at center.

Those prognosticators predicting a highly drafted guard based on need should take pause. The position of biggest need on the line is pretty much wide open. Franklin and Montgomery are 2015 free agents. Ramirez and Clark are 2016 free agents. Whatever position they draft, as long as they get a 2015-2016 starter then they will have multiple chances to adjust in free agency.

If they take a center, great. If they don't take a center they still have Ramirez and/or they can probably re-sign Montgomery if he works out.

If they take a guard and he has talent then it puts them in the driver seat for Franklin's impending free agency. If they don't take a guard then they can make re-signing Franklin a higher priority. They already have a two year backup plan in place with Ramirez.

A tackle would be competition for Clark and a starting option on the right side for 2015/2016 but also a backup plan if Clady should go sideways.

A future starter at any line position is good. A non-starter…not so good.

It's nice that Painter is in the equation, at worst, as a back-up tackle for the next few years. We SHOULD be good there, if he's as promising as they think he is. Not a bad 6th round pick.

I do think we'll address the interior line, but man, it's hard to imagine it will be early in the draft. Unless a stud drops to our 2nd round pick, I have to think we're waiting till the 3rd/4th round.

We HAVE to go CB either 1st or 2nd, and likely MLB with the other pick. And you know we're going WR not far after that.

retro-grouch wrote:I thought Painter looked extremely raw in the 2013 preseason. Having seen that, I'll be looking at the 2014 preseason for signs of development.

The fact that they re-signed Winston Justice makes it harder to believe that Painter has strong 2014 backup potential.

Yeah, I feel like they were hedging their bets with Painter by re-signing Justice. And you're right, he did look REALLY, REALLY raw.

But I've been encouraged by everything I've heard about him. It'll be interesting to see how he does in the preseason.

If "Really Really raw" = terrible...then I am with you 100%, because he looked terrible last year in the pre-season. It reminded me of watching alphonso smith in the preseason a few years ago....alarms were going off in my head "alert alert, this guy is terrible" We will see if he improved since last year. He had a TON of work to do IMO.

"Fans" that are SO happy with their team haven't posted since:Broncorusader last post 10/30 fan since 1976 and not happy we are winning?BroncoVino last post 12/8? He is a fan of the Broncos?Winorgetout last post 11/23? Fan since 1974?

If it works out, Orlando should be great at LG. He played there at the "U." He's a road-grader who will open holes for Montee Ball and is big enough to stop the (Seattle-style) inside line push. I'm still not a fan of Chris Clark except as a backup. As others noted, the re-signing of Winston Justice is telling.